Small green chillis.

[Andy in Sig]

I've got an Indian recipe which needs small green chillies, the ones that are about an inch long and pretty hot but OTH they're not napalm on the tongue.

My question is: how easy is it to grow them on a balcony in summer, winter indoors basis and does the bush keep reasonable proportions or does it threaten to take over your whole life and where do you get seeds?

 

[Speicher]

I expect they will Germinate where you are!


gets coat, well it is snowing

 

[dan_bo]

You'll want a birdseye type of chilli, but IMO it's a tad late to be planting for this year. Get thee to the garden centre!

 

[Norm]

We grow chillis most years, they are very easy to grow on a window ledge in southern England and they only grow to about 50-60cm-ish. Couldn't tell you the variety, though the ones we choose are generally pretty mild.

Obvious but I'll write it anyway, don't pick them before doing your contact lenses.

(The wife says last year we grew "Big banana" last year. Although the fruit were nice there were only three on each plant, so we won't grow them again.)

 

[accountantpete]

Chillies are grown as annuals ( so no over-wintering) and get to 3' high measured from the top of the pot. You can get smaller varieties.

The chillies you need are Birds-Eye chillies which start green and then turn red as they ripen

http://www.chileseeds.co.uk/birds_eye_chilli_pepper_seeds.htm

 

[Andy in Sig]

Thank you all very much indeed. That's what I love about CC: every question gets an answer!

 

[User169]

Rather than growing them, you can buy a big bag of them, freeze and then use as necessary. It's pretty cost-neutral as against growing them.

 

[Fab Foodie]

Agree, growing them is simples and you can get shedloads off one small bush. We grew little ones last year and they're like oral dynamite!
Colourful too!

 

[wafflycat]

I grew several varieties last year - as a complete beginner trying to grow them from seed. Worked a treat. If I can do them, I reckon anyone can.

 

[jamesxyz]

go to an indian supermarket if there is one near you. They cost a fraction of the price the big supermarkets charge. Grow them for the 'pleasure' not to save money as in my experience this isn't economical.

 

[scots_lass]

Still plenty of time to sow them from seed. But they do attract white-fly (maybe only in the greenhouse?). When they are ready just pick them and throw them into a bag in the freezer. Will last you through the winter no bother.

 

[Arch]

Still plenty of time to sow them from seed. But they do attract white-fly (maybe only in the greenhouse?). When they are ready just pick them and throw them into a bag in the freezer. Will last you through the winter no bother.

And if the flavour's no good, do you make bonnets out of them?

 

[Tollers]

Chillies are grown as annuals ( so no over-wintering)

Not true. Most chillis are annuals, but a lot can be over-wintered if cut back.

They are easy to grow.....Here is snapshots of my 2009 haul. I ended up with 5 bags like this.

Now is the perfect time to get started. It's not too late for 2010. Go for it. Get some quality seeds and get growing

 

[Tollers]

All of my chilli growing stuff is available to anyone who wants it (for free) if you collect.

https://www.cyclechat.net/